Can Rockets’ Chris Paul teach Warriors’ Stephen Curry...

1of4The Rockets’ Chris Paul (left) has been eclipsed by old friend Stephen Curry in the NBA’s point guard hierarchy.Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

2of4Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry chases Houston Rockets Chris Paul in the fourth quarter during game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

3of4Houston Rockets Chris Paul tries to get past Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry in the second quarter during game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

4of4Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry guards Houston Rockets Chris Paul in the second quarter during game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena on Sunday, April 28, 2019 in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

HOUSTON — Instead of moving to the Bay Area after his first summer league with the Warriors, Stephen Curry flew to Winston-Salem, N.C. — 80 miles northeast of his Charlotte home — to train with his longtime role model, Chris Paul.

For several weeks, Curry woke up early, joining Paul — then the New Orleans Hornets’ All-Star point guard — in a rigorous offseason workout regimen of cone drills, weight lifting and sprints. Nearly a decade later, Curry considers those sessions his introduction to all that goes into becoming the modern-day face of an NBA franchise.

“It helped me understand the work ethic and perspective of a guy who, at that time, was going into his fourth or fifth year, had established himself and was still trying to get better,” Curry said Friday. “I got to see that firsthand, and it put me outside my comfort zone for a little bit, for sure.”

Much has changed. Curry has eclipsed Paul as the best point guard of this generation, and Curry’s Warriors on Saturday will try to build on their 2-0 series lead over Paul’s Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals. Paul, who turns 34 on Monday, might be running out of time to add a championship to his Hall of Fame resume.

Although he boasts nine All-Star appearances and four All-NBA first-team selections, Paul still is dogged by questions about his on-court leadership and ability to win big games. Last May, he seemed poised to make his first NBA Finals, only for a right hamstring strain to sideline him for Games 6 and 7 of the West finals.

With Paul watching from the bench, the Rockets squandered a 3-2 series lead to Curry and the Warriors. Now, thanks to the Rockets’ aging core and his balky hamstring, Paul faces the prospect of joining Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing as NBA greats who never won titles.

With the Hornets and Clippers, Paul didn’t have the supporting cast or locker-room chemistry to hoist a Larry O’Brien trophy. But in Houston, he has formed one of the league’s most potent backcourts with James Harden on a championship-caliber roster. The only problem is that the Rockets’ window has fallen during the Warriors’ dynasty.

The latest odds from Las Vegas have Golden State as a minus-185 favorite to win its fourth championship in five seasons, with Houston tied for the third-best chances at plus-1,000. Paul, for his part, seems unfazed. Asked after Game 2 on Tuesday how the Rockets would handle their series deficit, Paul said, “How we handle it? Get ready for Game 3. … We’re going back home.”

Back home in 2005, Curry was struggling to land Division I scholarship offers at Charlotte Christian School, while Paul was becoming a household name at nearby Wake Forest. Although their playing styles differed — Curry a scrawny shooter; Paul a muscular facilitator — Curry studied how Paul organized the offense, worked off screens and found open teammates.

Now Playing:

Stephen Curry on Chris Paul

Video: San Francisco Chronicle

In the summer of 2008, after Curry decided to return to Davidson for his junior season and work to become a more complete point guard, Paul mentored him on the position’s nuances at LeBron James’ summer camp. Three years later, Curry heard he could be traded for his mentor, as the Warriors were considering sending him to New Orleans for Paul.

Instead of getting upset, Curry felt honored. Other teams were recognizing his potential.

After Paul led the Clippers to a seven-game, first-round series win over the Warriors in 2014, Curry and Golden State blossomed into NBA heavyweights. Over the next three years, as the Warriors won two titles, the Clippers failed to escape the conference semifinals.

When he was traded to Houston in June 2017, Paul saw a chance to finally challenge Golden State. This was a franchise that wanted to beat the Warriors just as badly as he did.

In Game 5 of the 2018 West finals, Paul stopped at the top of the arc, stepped back and drilled a deep 3-pointer over Curry’s outstretched arm. As he ran back on defense, Paul, blank-faced, shimmied. Recognizing that Paul had used Curry’s signature celebration to taunt him, Curry smiled as he chewed his mouth guard.

Later in the game, Paul reached for his hamstring after missing a runner in the lane, limped noticeably during the next two possessions and would check out of the game, his season over.

The memory of watching the Warriors go on to win Games 6 and 7 has gnawed at Paul. But even if he can’t author a better ending to this series, Paul’s legacy won’t be tarnished to the numerous NBA players who grew up idolizing him.

“My view of success is moreso longevity than it is just awards that you accumulate over your time,” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said. “I think Chris Paul has been in the league for 14 years now, and he still affects the game the same way he did at the beginning of his career.

“That longevity turns you into a Hall of Famer, a legend in my opinion.”

Connor Letourneau moved to the Golden State Warriors beat in September 2016 after a year covering Cal. Previously, he spent two years covering the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian. Letourneau is a University of Maryland alum who has interned for The Baltimore Sun and blogged for The New York Times. A Portland, Ore., native, he is interested in telling the stories that extend beyond the field or court.